Have yourself a merry little Autumn time…

Do you want our opinion? Of course you do, that’s why you’re here, right? Well, we think summer gets too much attention! Who wants long, drawn-out days, hay fever, stupid music festivals and men in short-shorts?

We think you should, like us, turn your attention to autumn. The colours are beautiful and in the run up to holiday season there’s always lots of food, drink and fun to be found in the capital. So, quite simple really, here are five things you should really do…

1) Scooch over to Sketch

Sketch sure does get a lot of attention, and for good reason too. The place is a hub of creativity, beauty and weird design. It’s warren of rooms is an ideal way to spend an afternoon drinking tea or nibbling cakes and sandwiches. It’s so bright and fancy inside, you sure as heck won’t be missing the sun, but it’s not just the pink walls, spinning chandeliers or egg-shaped toilets that are meticulously designed, the cocktails are too. Seriously, you need to try one of these beauties, and with names like Art Nouveau, Empire State Tipple and Boisson Contemporaine, we can’t think why on earth you wouldn’t want to.

2) Have a Happy Halloween

We love Halloween here at FoodNoise, because we love having an excuse to party. Dressing up isn’t always our style, but creeping out our friends and families really is. There’s so much fun to be had with practical jokes, ghost stories and scary movies. So get your Halloween playlist at the ready, or head down to the long list of events in town, but be warned; it’s going to be a long one, you’ll be out way past the witching hour.

3) Cringe at the shops selling Christmas gifts

This is ridiculous isn’t it? It’s barely even Halloween and already the shops are stuffing Santa statues, horrific tinsel and Christmas crackers down our throats. You really have to see it to believe it, so take a trip to your local Pound Shop, or budget supermarket and give yourself a laugh – oh, but don’t forget to pick up the silver reindeer for Aunty Jane before it sells out, Christmas just won’t be complete without Dasher on the mantelpiece.

4) Lap up some culture at the London Literature Festival

London cocktail week has gone and hopefully so has your hangover, so get your brain box ready for some (enjoyable) work with the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre. There are 20 days packed full of literature related events, including talks, readings, workshops, music and performance. Highlights this year include a talk from Tom Hanks, and on the eve of the Man Booker Prize Awards, a conversation with the shortlisted authors – will they hold it together? We know we’ll be on the edge of our seats.

5) Peruse the Peckham Levels

If you were a lover of Frank’s this summer and wonder what you’re going to do with your evenings now it’s cold and dark, then fear not because Peckham has got another trick up its creative sleeve: Peckham Levels. They’ve turned the town centre car park into seven levels of culture, with events, food, drinks and studios. Don’t miss your chance to hang 10 on Thursday October 26th, when the team from WEST will be be taking over the Spike & Earl kitchen with their plant-centric dishes inspired by the West Coast of America. It’s going to be totally radical dude.